Green Connections

Green Connections is an exciting plan to connect people to parks through a network of safe, green, traffic calmed streets. The plan was finalized in 2014, and includes a network of 115 miles of city streets. The full network aims to be completed in 20 years.

San Francisco’s Green Connections are a network of sustainable corridors throughout the city designed to green neighborhood streets, filter rainwater, and support and encourage wildlife habitat, while also calming traffic and improving pedestrian and bicycle access to open space.

Intersection Murals

Intersection Murals

While San Francisco doesn’t currently offer an intersection mural program for community members, street murals are an approved element of the Green Connections plan.

Photo by Robin Allen

At the final Sunday Streets of 2014, Walk SF hosted San Francisco’s first ever intersection mural (also known as a painted intersection) at Valencia and 24th. The volunteer-led demonstration was created to show how easy it is to use this simple, low cost tool to reclaim streets as safe, shared spaces everyone can enjoy. Intersection murals help remind drivers to slow down on your streets, by letting them know families live, and children play nearby.

Approximately 25% of the city’s land is currently devoted exclusively to car traffic. If you want to reclaim city streets as safe, shared public space, build community, create a sense of local identity, beautify your neighborhood, and calm traffic on your streets, learn more about intersection murals in your neighborhood.

Your early interest in the project will enable Walk SF to advocate for the quick development of an intersection mural program (similar to the Parklets program) and urge the release of a standardized application process to bring this traffic-calming solution to your neighborhood.

Get Started Today

Get Started Today

Connect with neighbors to discuss the idea and if you make a commitment to the next step

Contact Pavement to Parks and your District Supervisor to request a painted intersection (be sure to copy Walk SF)

Your early interest in the project will enable Walk SF to advocate for the quick development of a painted intersection program and standard application procedure to bring traffic-calming to your neighborhood.

On arterial streets (or those with high traffic volumes/fast moving vehicles), design interventions include generous sidewalk areas and separated bicycle facilities. Dangerous arterial crossings include design interventions that ensure the comfort and safety of vulnerable users, and they are given a high-priority for implementation.

Do You Live Near a Green Connection Route?

Do You Live Near a Green Connection Route?

Green Connections has envisioned “neighborhood-led projects” as an important approach to implementation. Neighborhood-led projects enable local communities to take an active role in building Green Connections. The Green Connections Community Resource List (see page 113) provides a list of potential programs, grants and other resources available to help communities design and implement Green Connections. Here are a few to get you started:

Community Challenge Grant Program – The Community Challenge Grant (CCG) Program provides grant opportunities through an application process to neighborhood groups and community based organizations facilitating neighborhood beautification projects. CCG creates opportunities for local residents and businesses to increase neighborhood amenities that enhance recreation and open-space needs.

Pavement to Parks Program – The Pavement to Parks program aims to convert underused areas of the public right-of-way into new pedestrian spaces through the use of temporary design interventions. The most notable tool used in this program is the parklet – a temporary design treatment that involves repurposing on-street parking spaces into new public parks.

Neighborhood Tree Planting Program – Organized by Friends of the Urban Forest, the Neighborhood Tree Planting Program provides local residents with an easy and affordable way to obtain new street trees in their neighborhood. The Neighborhood Tree Planting Program provides groups of property owners with logistical support in city permits as well as support with tree selection, planting and maintenance.

Green Connections is a collaborative effort of the San Francisco Planning Department, Municipal Transportation Agency, Department of Public Health, Department of the Environment, Public Utilities Commission, Department of Public Works, the Port of San Francisco and the Mayor’s Office of Housing. Walk San Francisco and two other community-based organizations – Nature in the City and San Francisco Parks Alliance – assisted in the development of Green Connections.